I did many textile units with my art students - discussing "style and
status" of clothing in the various cultures - then we related clothing
and costume to out own culture. My Cultural Threads lesson (drawing
hands) was one that used textiles for inspiration.
For some, the importance of style and fashion is paramount in their everyday
lives. While many in contemporary society remain on the cutting edge of
fashion in order to appear hip, life in other societies demanded much of
vestments in terms of their ability to convey status and power. This was
certainly true of life in imperial Turkey during the reign of the Ottomans,
and this delightful online exhibition pays homage to their complex and
beautiful robes and related items. On this site, visitors are treated to a
fine introductory essay that describes the bright colors and bold designs of
these robes, along with providing some important background information.
With relative ease, visitors can zoom in to view details of some of these
robes, which feature intricate weaves and explosions of vibrant color. For
visitors who are not completely sated by this exhibition, the site also
contains links to other sites on the Ottoman Library created by a host of
other institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. [KMG]
>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2006.
http://scout.wisc.edu/
Permission is granted to repost.
Even if you do not teach textiles, this exhibit is worth exploring.
